What are the different things that could cause abdominal pain??
I’ve had abdominal pain for well over 5 years, and have had some tests done by a gastro(?) specialist. One thing he did was a colonoscopy, which came out fine. That was basically the extent of the testing, that I can recall! I’m currently also experiencing quite a bit of discomfort in my groin area, and wonder if this may be ‘connected’ with whatever is going on in my abdomen. Anyone have any suggestions as to what I can say to my doctor the next time I see him??
You wouldn’t believe the number of things that can cause abdominal pain. Is this specifically visceral pain (internal organs) rather than muscle cramps or surface pain? It sounds like it, from your question.
The trouble with this is that there are just a few nerves running from the viscera to the sensory horn of the spinal cord, it is difficult to localize the pain in the first place. Abdominal pain is notoriously hard to diagnose, sad to say.
Lactose intolerance is pretty common in adults, try lactose free dairy products or over-the-counter lactase (enzyme which breaks down lactose)… I think it’s sold as Lactaid.
Heartburn, try eating less spicy and acidic food, take antacid tablets.
Ulcers, can be caused by bacterial infection or errosion of stomach lining. Doctor can diagnose and prescribe antibiotics. Possible to treat with stronger antacids. May be aggravated by aspirin and certain other NSAIDs.
Other gastro-intestinal infections, especially if you have diarrhea along with the pain.
Irritable bowel syndrome.
Parasite.
Organ problems, like gall stones, malfunctioning kidneys, something of that type. You may need to have something removed or something replaced.
Tumor, expensive MRI can diagnose.
Yeah I could go on all day… do yourself a favor, write down your symptoms, when they occur, where you feel pain, what type of pain (burning, stabbing, dull, cramping, etc), the intensity of the pain, how long it lasts, what you ate 12-24 hours before, any vomiting or diarrhea, etc. keep track for at least a week and go see your doctor again. it might help diagnose your problem, and possibly save you the expense of blood work/ultrasounds/MRI. You might also provide a stool sample, they can probably test for parasites that way. Hopefully your symptoms are typical of some specific, easy to fix condition! Best wishes.
it can be lots of different thing. go back to gp and demand more tests or go get a second opinion from another gp
It could be Irritable Bowel Syndrome. My mom had the same symptoms as you have described, including the colonoscopy and the monitoring of stool samples. The Gastroentologist concluded that there was nothing "severely" wrong, and that it was IBS that would get better with a change in diet. She now limits her intake of dairy products and heavy proteins (no red meat), and that seems to have made it better. If that change does not make a difference for you, see the Gastroentolgist again and ask him about IBS.
This is kind of a longshot, as it is an anatomical abnormality, but it turned out to be the problem for me when I was put through a series of increasingly invasive and uncomfortable tests by a colon specialist. It turned out that I have longer intestines than most people, much much longer, essentially taking up extra space and slowing my body’s digestive process. The surgeon advised me that the only solution was to remove the excess intestinal length, but that insurance would not cover it because it would be considered elective, and so in addition to a long, horribly painful recovery period, I would have an enormous bill to cover. His recommendation was to simply avoid eating solid foods as a general rule, getting the greater percentage of my caloric requirements from liquids…he specifically steered me toward milkshakes and pudding and instructed me to aim for protein rather than carbs or fiber when I did eat solid food. It turned out to be the elusive answer to my longtime weight loss puzzle too–the physical anomaly was the reason I could never get where I wanted regardless of exercise (and all the diets I’d tried were high-fiber, low-fat regimens counterproductive for my particular system!).
Lots.From innocuous to serious stuff.
Get thorough testing done.you may eventually find the cause.